Rotating pneumatic vibrator

ABSTRACT

A rotating pneumatic vibrator in which a cylindrical housing is provided with an axial shaft spaced inwardly from the walls of the housing to provide a circular space between the shaft and the housing. A cylindrical rotor having a diameter greater than the shaft and smaller then the housing is mounted on the shaft for movement thereabout. A longitudinally extending radially moveable vane is mounted in the shaft and is arranged to be pneumatically pressed against the rotor. Air forces the vane against the rotor and escapes into the chamber formed between the shaft and the rotor, the air forces the rotor to move about the shaft and then escapes to the atmosphere with the rotor and vane returned to their beginning point. The motion is continuous and produces vibrations due to the movement of the rotor on the shaft. Replaceable circular wear plates are fitted in each end of the housing to seal the ends of the rotor to prevent leakage.

United States Patent 1191 Wadensten ROTATING PNEUMATIC VIIBRATURTheodore S. Wadensten, 28 Snyder Ave., Ramsey, NJ. 07446 The portion ofthe term of this patent subsequent to Feb. 1, 1989, has been disclaimed.

Filed: May 14, 1971 Appl. No.: 143,451

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 42,791,June 2, 1970, Pat. No. 3,638,914.

Inventor:

Notice:

259/DIG. l6, DIG. 15; 308/163, 165; 418/178 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 4/1954 Lachaise 259/DIG. 43

11/1963 Anderson 259/1 R 6/1965 Walker et a1. 418/178 X 1 1971 Bayley418/178 2/1972 Wadensten 259/1 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. l-lomsbyAssistant Examiner-Alan I. Cantor Attorney, Agent, or Firnil3erman,Bishoff & Platt 5 7 ABSTRACT A rotating pneumatic vibrator in which acylindrical housing is provided with an axial shaft spaced inwardly fromthe walls of the housing to provide a circular space between the shaftand the housing. A cylindrical rotor having a diameter greater than theshaft and smaller then the housing is mounted on the shaft for movementthereabout. A longitudinally extending radially moveable vane is mountedin the shaft and is arranged to be pneumatically pressed against therotor. Air forces the vane against the rotor and escapes into thechamber formed between the shaft and the rotor, the air forces the rotorto move about the shaft and then escapes to the atmosphere with therotor and vane returned to their beginning point. The motion iscontinuous and produces vibrations due to the movement of the rotor onthe shaft.

Replaceable circular wear plates are fitted in each end of the housingto seal the ends of the rotor to prevent leakage.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures ROTATING PNEUMATIC VIBRATOR This applicationis a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 42,791filed June 2, 1970, entitled Rotating Pneumatic Vibrator, now US. Pat.No. 3,638,914.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present inventionrelates to rotary pneumatic vibrators of the type which are caused tovibrate by the rotation of off center member within the vibrator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The vibrator includes a cylindrical housinghaving a central fixed shaft mounted therein and spaced inwardly fromthe housing to provide a circular space surrounding the shaft. The shafthas a longitudinally extending radially moveable vane which is adaptedto engage against the inner face of a circular rotor mounted between theshaft and the housing. The vane is pneumatically driven against therotor and also serves as a valve to control the air flow into the spacebetween the shaft and the rotor. As air pressure is applied to the vaneand to the space between the shaft and rotor the rotor is caused to moveabout the shaft with the air escaping through ports on the far side ofthe shaft to permit the rotor to return to its starting position. Themovement of the rotor creates a unbalanced condition and causesvibration in the device. Wear plates at each end of the rotor providesealing to prevent leakage.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rotating pneumaticvibrator having a minimum of working parts to permit a long life withoutexcessive wear.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is an end elevation of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG.1, looking in the direction of the ar rows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG.1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-2 of FIG.2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the elements in an advancedposition;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 with the'elements in a stillfurther advanced position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shaft forming part of the invention;and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of one of the wear plates removed from thehousing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail,.wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, the reference numeral I0 indicates generally, arotary pneumatic vibrator constructed in accordance with the invention.

The vibrator III includes a cylindrical housing 11 having a cylindricalbore 12 formed therein. A circular end plate 13 is secured to one end ofthe housing 11 by a plurality of cap screws M. The end plate 13 has anaxial bore 15 extending therethrough.

A circular end plate 16 is secured to the opposite end of the housingIll by a plurality of capscrews 17. An axial bore 118 is formed in thecircular plate 116. The circular plates 13, 116 are identical in everyrespect.

A circular wear plate P is secured to each of the end plates l3, l6 andhas a central bore B formed therein.

A shaft 119 is positioned in the housing Ill and has a reduced diameteraxial extension 20 at one end and a reduced diameter axial extension 21at the opposite end thereof. The extension 20 projects through the boreB in the wear plate P and through the bore 15 of the end plate 13 and islocked thereto against rotation by a key 22 mounted in a keyway 23 inthe extension 20 and a keyway 29 in the bore 15 of the end plate 13.

The extension 21 projects through the bore B in the end plate P andthrough the bore 13 of the end plate 16 and is locked against rotationto the end plate 16 by means of a key 25 seated in a keyway 26 in theexten sion 21 and a keyway 27 in the bore 13 of the circular plate 16.

The shaft I9 has a radial slot 28 formed therein and extendinglongitudinally from the extension 20 to the extension 21 as can beclearly seen in FIG. 7. The slot 28 is adapted to receive a generallyrectangular vane 29 which extends from the end wall 13 to the end wall16 and is adapted for radial reciprocation in the slot 23. A bore 30threaded at its outer end extends through the extension 20 communicatingwith the slot 23 at its inner end. An air supply pipe 31 is adapted tobe connected to the bore 30 by means of a fitting 32. A bore 33 extendsthrough the shaft 19 and each of the extensions 20, 211 and has itsopposite ends threaded to permit exhaust pipes 34! to be connectedthereto by means of fittings 35.

A plurality of bores 36 extend angularly and outwardly from the slot 23through the side of the shaft 19. The bores 36 terminate above thebottom of the slot 28 and are arranged so that with the: vane 29 in itsinnermost position the inner ends of the bores 36 are obstructed toprevent the flow of air outwardly therethrough. The outer ends of thebores 36 and closely adjacent the slot 23 on one side thereof.

A plurality of exhaust bores 37 extend upwardly and angularly from thebore 33 through the side of the shaft I9 with their outer endsterminating closely adjacent the slot 28 on the side thereof oppositethe bores 36.

A cylindrical rotor 38 having a length equal to the housing III ispositioned between the shaft 119 and the housing Ill in engagement withthe vane 29. The rotor 38 has an internal diameter substantially greaterthan the external diameter of the shaft: 19 and has an external diametersubstantially less then the internal diameter of the housing II.

The vibrator described above includes eight parts namely the cylindricalhousing 11, end plates 13, 16, wear plates P, shaft 19, vane 29, androtor 33. All parts of the vibrator 19 are stationary with the exceptionof the rotor 33-and the vane 29.

In the use and operation of the invention the cylindrical housing 11 isrigidly secured to any device to be vibrated and the pipe 31 isconnected to a source of air under pressure. The pipes 34 are connectedto any exhaust system for leading the exhaust air away from the vibrator10.

In the use and operation of the invention compressed air enters throughthe bore 30 and enters the slot 28 raising the vane 29 into contact withthe rotor 38 forcing the rotor 38 into contact with the shaft 19immediately below the vane 29 assuming the position illustrated in FIG.4. This creates an air chamber 39 between the vane 29, the rotor 38 andshaft 19, as also can be seen in FIG. 4. The bores 36 communicate withthe chamber 39. The second chamber 40 is formed on the opposite side ofthe shaft 19 and the bores 37 communicate with the chamber 40. Thechamber 39 is a high pressure chamber and the chamber 40 is a lowpressure chamber.

Air flowing through the bores 36 from the slot 28 will increase the sizeof the chamber 39 forcing the rotor to the left and downwardly to theposition as can be seen in FIG. 5. The chamber 40 is decreased in sizewith the air flowing therefrom outwardly through the bores 37 into theexhaust bore 33. As more air is supplied through the bores 36 thechamber 39 increases in size as can be seen in FIG. 6 and the chamber 40disappears. As the rotor 38 comes to'the position illustrated in FIG. 6the chamber 39 communicates with the bores 37 and the vane 29 shuts offthe inner ends of the bores 36 so that no more air is supplied to thechamber 39 and the high pressure air in the chamber 39 is permitted tobegin to escape through the bores 37. As soon as the vane 29 closes thebores 36 high pressure air begins to build up behind the vane 29 and itis forced upwardly to the position illustrated in FIG. 4 raising therotor 38 and returning the rotor 38 to its beginning point as seen inFIG. 4. The motion of the rotor 38 is a combination of rotation andimpacting as it strikes the shaft 19 due to the force applied by thevane 29. Vibration is thus created. With a steady supply of air underpressure several thousand impacts per minute are created in the vibrator10. The opposite ends of the rotor 38 are in sliding and sealing contactwith the end plates 13, 16. The vane 29 is also in sliding and sealingcontact with the end plates 13, 16 as well as with the rotor 38.

The wear plates P prevent leakage at the end of the rotor 38 and may bereplaced as required by wear.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention itshould be understood that numerous structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary pneumatic vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing, a pairof circular end plates detachably secured to opposite ends of saidhousing, a circular wear plate secured between each end plate and saidhousing, a shaft mounted axially of said housing and extending throughsaid end plates, means locking said shaft to said end plates to prevent,relative rotation therebetween, said shaft having a radial slot formedtherein extending longitudinally from one of said end plates to theother of said end plates, said shaft having an air inlet bore extendingthrough one end thereof and communicating with the slot in said shaft,said shaft having an exhaust bore formed therein, and extending throughat least one end thereof, a plurality of inlet bores extending throughsaid shaft from the inner end portion of said slot through the side ofsaid shaft, a plurality of exhaust ports extending from said exhaustbore through the side walls of said shaft, said inlet bores and saidexhaust ports being positioned closely adjacent to and on opposite sidesof said slot, a vane mounted in said slot for radial reciprocationtherein and adapted when at its inner end to close said inlet bores, anda cylindrical 1 rotor having an inner diameter greater than the diameterof said shaft and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of saidhousing loosely mounted about said shaft within said housing with itsopposite ends engaging against said wear plates, whereby uponapplication of air under pressure to said inlet bore said vane is forcedoutwardlyof said slot and said rotor is forced to move aboutsaid shaftin an unbalanced condition.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft includes axialextensions at opposite ends thereof projecting through said wear platesand said end plates.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said exhaust bore extendscompletely through said shaft.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor slidably andsealingly engages the wear plates at opposite ends thereof.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vane slidably andsealingly engages said wear plates at opposite ends thereof.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer portion of said vaneslidably and sealingly engages the inner face of said rotor.

1. A rotary pneumatic vibrator comprising a cylindrical housing, a pairof circular end plates detachably secured to opposite ends of saidhousing, a circular wear plate secured between each end plate and saidhousing, a shaft mounted axially of said housing and extending throughsaid end plates, means locking said shaft to said end plates to preventrelative rotation therebetween, said shaft having a radial slot formedtherein extending longitudinally from one of said end plates to theother of said end plates, said shaft having an air inlet bore extendingthrough one end thereof and communicating with the slot in said shaft,said shaft having an exhaust bore formed therein, and extending throughat least one end thereof, a plurality of inlet bores extending throughsaid shaft from the inner end portion of said slot through the side ofsaid shaft, a plurality of exhaust ports extending from said exhaustbore through the side walls of said shaft, said inlet bores and saidexhaust ports being positioned closely adjacent to and on opposite sidesof said slot, a vane mounted in said slot for radial reciprocationtherein and adapted when at its inner end to close said inlet bores, anda cylindrical rotor having an inner diameter greater than the diameterof said shaft and an outer diameter less than the inner diameter of saidhousing loosely mounted about said shaft within said housing with itsopposite ends engaging against said wear plates, whereby uponapplication of air unDer pressure to said inlet bore said vane is forcedoutwardly of said slot and said rotor is forced to move about said shaftin an unbalanced condition.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid shaft includes axial extensions at opposite ends thereof projectingthrough said wear plates and said end plates.
 3. A device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said exhaust bore extends completely through said shaft.4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor slidably andsealingly engages the wear plates at opposite ends thereof.
 5. A deviceas claimed in claim 1 wherein said vane slidably and sealingly engagessaid wear plates at opposite ends thereof.
 6. A device as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the outer portion of said vane slidably and sealinglyengages the inner face of said rotor.